Furnace.



v Patanted Aug. !9, !902. J. BEAGAN. I

FUBNAG (Applicatiqn filed May 97, 1002.)

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(No Model.)

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' /NVENTOR W/TNESSES: ?7

FURNACB (Applicatin filed m 97, 1902. o

(No Model.) 3 seets-shet 3.

F' ra 13 I-' lali 14'- ATTORNEY nu: NORRIS rrrzns co.. moto-mua.. wANNaTN. D; I;

UN TED 4 STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES REAGAN,` OF PHILADELPHI, PENNSYLVANIA.

FURNACE.

SPECIFICATON forming part of Letters Patent NO. '707,1 57, clated'August 19, 1902.

Application filed May 27, 1902 To all whom it' may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES REAGAN, a citizen of the United States of America,'and a 'resi dent of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces, of which the following is a specificationa My invention relates to that class of furnaces in which air is introduced into the combustion-spaces above the bed of fuel.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for taking air from the ash-pit or, if necessary, from the outside of the furnace and delivering it in such quantities as'may be required above the fire-line over the grate without in any way narring or interfering with the walls, sheets, or lining proper of the furnace or requiring the use of fastening or securing devices.

A further object of my invention is to provide a means for arranging a prop'er proportion between the amount of air so delivered and the gases to be burned, so asto secure the best combustion of the particular fuel being usedand also by proper Construction of the .air-passages to deliver the required Volume of air at the highest pressure possible with the draft in use and by properly arranging the outlets to direct the incoming air to the particular partof the furnace where it is most required.

A further object of my invention is to provide means by which such -air-passages may easily be kept clear of ,obstructions or be cleaned out when such obstruction takes place. To accomplish these objects, I employ hollow blocks of suitable material, which are so supported that should it be desired to remove, repair, or replace the same this can be done without in any way interfering with the wall, sheet, or lining of the furnace or with the grate, and that the removal of the blocks, singly'or together, f'or any purpose will not interfere with the operation of the furnace or grate.

Referring to the drawings,-Figure 1 shows in perspective ahollow block such as I have employed and'found to give good results on avparticular class of fuel. Fig. 2 represents the same block in section. Fig. 3 represents the same block shown in section at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4

,air and reducing friction.

Serial No.109,153. (No model.)

represents a vertical transverse sectional View on the line X Xof Fig; 6 of a' furnace equipped with such blocks. Fig. 5 shows a vertical longitudinal section on the line Y Y of Figa 6 of a furnace equipped with such blocks; Fig. 6 is a 'plan View of the same. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be` seen that the particular block A here shown is equippedwith-a shoulder B, so that it may be supported by resting upon the grate C; but I do not limit myself to this form of support, since any suit able method may be usedsuch as making r the blocks in wedge form or providing an independent step or bracket for holding 'same either in the wall, sheet, or lining 'of the furnace or on the grate or independent of either. 'Any of these methods of support is similarly used at the bridge-wall or fire-door endof the furnace; Figs. 7 and 8 show edge'- wise 'Views ?of independent brackets or supports. Figs. 9 and 10 show edgewise Views of blocks made wedge shape in difierent ways and' adapted to wedge themselves between the wall and the grate or supporting-hame. Figs. 11 and 12 show a method of support independent of the walls, sheets, or linings of the furnace or of the grate. Figs. 13 and 14 show a tapered restricted outlet.

The blocks A are also-shown as being pro jvided each with a tongue'H upon one side and a groove I upon the other, which are adapted to looselymatch with the tongues and gro'oves of adjacent sections; but 'I do not limit myself to this specific construction, as the func tion of the blocks as air feeding and deliver ing devices is not dependent upon the means for maintaining them in position. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that each of these blocks is provided with a tapering airpassage D, extending from the inductionopening E at the bottom to the opening F at the top, and also with an inclined outlet G, leading from the tapering passage D to the face of the'block.- This outlet -mayalso `be tapered if found advisable; These taperingpassages and inclined outlets I so prp'ortion' u that air shall bedelivered at as great a pressure as can be obtained with the particular. draft used, the passages being tapered from' inlet to outlet, preventing wire-drawing of the make the air-passages of the blocks as large' In other words, I a

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' sumed.

as possible up to the restricted point of discharge, so that practically the full pressure of the admitted air may be eXerted at the outlet and cause penetrative jets of air to enter the interior portion of the body of combustible gases within the combustion-space. In this way the air in proper quantity to support combustion becomes diffused into all portions of the volatilized constituents of the fuel, thereby enabling them to be perfectly con- If the passages in theblocks were of uniform dimensions throughout their length, these results could not be attained, for small passages would unduly reduce the pressure at the outlets and large passages would supply air in such Volume as to detrimentally chili the combustion-space or displace the gases before they are consumed. The openngs F are individually closed, as shown in Fig. 4, by removable covers, such as bricks.

The operation is as follows: The fire is started upon the grate in the usual manner, the air for initial combustion fiowing in through the ash-pit doors, ash-pit, and grate into the combustion-space above the grate. As soon as the blocks A become heated the air within the tapering channels will flow upward, and, the openings F being closed by any suitable means, it will pass through the outlets G into the combustion-space, which' action will be produced or assisted by the natural draft of the furnace. The air issuing from the outlets G will be driven across the upper surface of the fire and will mingle with the gases given e& by the fuel, assisting in the proper combustion of same.

It is well known that perfect conbustion is dependent upon three things: first, a sufficientsupply of oxygen; second,a sufficientlyhigh temperature, and, third, a complete diffusion of the combustible elements. It is my purpose to establish and maintain these conditions. The force with which the Currents of air passing through the blocks enters the combustion-chamber is sufficient to cause a practically perfect blending of the oxygenbearing element or air with all portions of the inflammable products of the distillation that has taken place within the body of solid fuel, and is thus the principal factor in the attainment of this object. Should it be found that too much air is being introduced, resultingin an uneconomical combustion, any number of the openings G may be closed by any suitable means, and the position of these openings so closed may be so selected as to give the results found best with the particular fuel employed, or only a limited number of hollow blocks may be used, the remainder being solid. Furthermore, the air-outlets of some blocks may be of a larger or a smaller feeding capacity than those of others in order to vary the degree of combustion in different parts of the furnace, and the feeding capacity of the blocks may be altered by increasing or diminishing the number of the passages and air-outlets or of the air-outlets.

When in the claims I speak of an air-passage and a restrictive air-measuring outlet, I mean to cover one or more than one passage or outlet.

The hollow blocks which I have described may be regarded as individual units of an air measuring and supplying system, for I propose to so construct each block that it will have a predetermined Capacity for feeding air to the combustion-space. This is desirable and even essential, for difierent grades of coal require unequal Volumes of air for their combustion, and some furnaces may need more air than others. The number of hollow blocks employed will therefore be determined by the kind and quality of the fuel as well as by the conditions found to exist in any particular furnace that is to be equipped with the hollow blocks.

In case it is desired to remove any one of the sections for repairs such section may be taken out by merely lifting it sufficiently far in a vertical direction from its resting-place to clear its tongue and groove from the tongue and groove of adjacent sections, when it may be readil y removed from the f urnace. In case ashes or other obstructive matter should get into the outlets G or the passages D such matter will naturally tend to fall away, owing to the tapering form of the channel, and if these channels should become obstructed an implement may be introduced into same through the upper opening F and the obstruction dislodged, the tapering form of the channel contributing to the ease of this operation.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In combination with a furnace, a hollow block independent of the walls, sheets, linings, or grates, having an air-measuring outlet and adapted to be removed or replaced without interfering with or changing the walls, grates, orsupports, substantially as described.

2. In a furnace a hollow block independent of the walls, sheets, linings, or grates, and adapted to be removed or replaced without in any way interfering with or changing the walls, grates or supports, and having a verticallydisposed tapering passage extending through its body with an opening at the upper end and an inclined outlet to deliver the 'air into the combustion-space above the fire as described.

3. In a furnace a hollow block independent of the walls, sheets, linings, or grates 'and adapted to be removed or replaced without in any way interfering with or changing the walls, grates, or supports having a verticallydisposed tapering passage extending through its body with an opening at the upper end and an inclined outlet to deliver air into the combustion-space above the fire, such passage and outlet being proportioned to deliver air at the outlet in such quantity as shall be %lesilrable for the proper combustion of the IOO IIO

` liver air at the ontlet in such quantity as shall' 4. In a furnace hollow blocks'independent of the walls, sheets,"1inings, or` grates and adapted 'tobe removed" or replaced without in any way interfering With 01' changing the walls, grates, or supports and having each a vertically-disposed tapering passage 'extending throughitybody With an `opening atfthe* upper end and an inclined outlet-to deliver air into the combnstion-space above the fire, such passage being proportioned so as to debe desh-able for the proper eombustion of the fuel, said blocks being adapted to be constrncted and applied to a fnrn'ace in a series of units so that any or'all may be used at will.

5. In a fnrnace 'a hollowiblock independent of the wa11s,'sheets, 1inin'gs',"or grates having a vertically-disposed tapering passage and an inclined outlet, a groove in one edge 'and a" tongnenpon `'the oppositeedge thereof 'substantially as described.

6. 'In a'furnaceahollowblock independent of the walls, or* of the grate, with a vertcallydisposedtapering passage and inclined outlet, a g'oovein one edge anda tongue upon 8.; A hollow block for furnaces having a' tapered air-passage in its body and an air-measuring outlet commnnicating -withsaid airpassageand adapted-when'in place 'to disber substantially'as described. r

`eharge air into, ortowardtheinterior of,' the" *body of'gases within the conbustion-cham Signed by me at Philadelphia,Pennsylva-' 5 nia, this`-26th day of May, A. D. 1902.

Witnesses: p

ROBERT `OSBORNE,- J r., RICHARD MCELROY.

JAMES BEAGAN. j 

